Impetigo

[FinBJJ]

I'm pretty sure I have impetigo on my chin, just one fingertip sized sore. Don't know if it's from BJJ or my gf, 'cause she has a sore in her nostril, but I guess BJJ would be more probable.

Nevertheless, I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow morning, but I was just wondering if you guys had any tricks how to beat this thing faster and when is it safe to train again. Definitely not going tonight since I don't even know what it is for 100%. The last thing I want to do is infect others with something.

If it turns out to be impetigo, do I have to wait until the whole sore is cleared up or does covering it with some sort of membranous bandage do the trick? If it's the former, I guess I'll just have to suck it up and stay off the mats.

 

[Bret Griffin]

Antibiotic ointment and staying off the mats till it has cleared are the only options my friend.

 

[Quipling]

Had it a few months ago. To relieve itching, dilute vinegar and wash with it.


My doctor prescribed oral antibiotics and a topical antibiotic. My OTC topicals did not work, but the oral antibiotics definitely did, and the topical seemed to help speed the process. Take your entire anti-biotic regimen, and wait until it heals over, or you are inviting reinfection because of the open sore. The topical will help prevent further spread, but is unlikely to cure on its own. Should take about about a week. You don't have to wait until the scar is no longer visibile, as this will take nearly a month sometimes.

Bandages and (even antibiotic) topicals are generally insufficient on their own because impetigo sores continiously exude infectious liquid that effectively push away the topical and seep through the bandage. (to see what i mean, put a dab of petroleum jelly on the sore. It'll turn yellow and expand. If you're on antibiotics, this will be much less noticable)

 

[LaBrian]

Go to the doctor and get a script. It will heal faster. My son had it and the otc stuff was taking forever. 2 days on oral antibiotic and it crusted over and cleared up.

 

[sb413197]

IMHO, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world for most BJJers to have a tube of bactroban handy in their house to catch infections before they get too bad. Staph is just so prevalent. Antifungal cream too for that matter - squelch ringwork and athlete's foot before it gets out of control.

And yes, see your doctor early and stay off the mat. If it is in fact impetigo then maybe consider asking your doctor for a larger tube of bactroban so you have leftover for next time.

 

[FinBJJ]

Thanks for all the advice!

I guess I'll just have to be patient and stay off the mats. Getting a larger tube of antibiotic cream sounds like a good idea. Also going to push for the oral antibiotics. I just want this thing gone asap.

 

[FinBJJ]

Went to the doctor and she confirmed it's impetigo. Prescribed some antibiotic cream and oral antibiotics. Hopefully it'll clear up soon.

 

[BeavTek]

I put a couple of drops of 100% Tea Tree Oil in my soap. I'm too cheap to buy Defense Soap. I only use it after I train and never had a problem with ringworm or any other bacterial/fungal infection.

 

[FinBJJ]

I put a couple of drops of 100% Tea Tree Oil in my soap. I'm too cheap to buy Defense Soap. I only use it after I train and never had a problem with ringworm or any other bacterial/fungal infection.

I'm seriously considering defense soap or something like that after this. That tea tree oil trick sounds like a good way to save a buck.

I've read online that many people freak out with disinfection and wipe every surface of their home with rubbing alcohol and burn their clothes. Others say they just took the antibiotics and it never came back.

If you've had impetigo, what measures have you taken to get rid of it once and for all?

 

[BeavTek]

I'm seriously considering defense soap or something like that after this. That tea tree oil trick sounds like a good way to save a buck.

I've read online that many people freak out with disinfection and wipe every surface of their home with rubbing alcohol and burn their clothes. Others say they just took the antibiotics and it never came back.

If you've had impetigo, what measures have you taken to get rid of it once and for all?

100% Tea Tree oil is good for around the house anyways. It has alot of uses.

My Niece had impetigo. She just took some anti-biotics and washed all of her cloths/sheets and it was fine. Bacteria need proper conditions to survive and once you take away moisture, they dry up and die.

 

[Hendo89]

I've gotten staph 3 times in 3 years twice impetigo and once a bad full swollen thing on my arm. As above posters said, full week of oral anti biotics, and topical bactroban. I think that I was on Cephalexin the first two times (oral) then a different one the third time. I'd say assuming its all clearing and no new sores 2 weeks after the end of anti biotics (one week of both topical and oral, no drinking etc and another 2 weeks after that so 3 total) it should be fine but of course go to the doctor cos I'm not one! Also not just a GP go to a dermatologist, I had my local doctor misdiagnose it twice.

Prevention is better than a cure there is a thread called should I wash my belt, look at that.

Great work not training too man I appreciate it, wish you a speedy recovery.

 

[Hendo89]

I'm seriously considering defense soap or something like that after this. That tea tree oil trick sounds like a good way to save a buck.

I've read online that many people freak out with disinfection and wipe every surface of their home with rubbing alcohol and burn their clothes. Others say they just took the antibiotics and it never came back.

If you've had impetigo, what measures have you taken to get rid of it once and for all?

There is no once and for all, you can get rid of it but if someone runs their staph on you in a year or whatever you will get it again.

 

[Hendo89]

About the whole cleaning thing, just be really hygienic, you don't need Defense soap (thread on that too) just be really fucking clean, like I have a shower morning and STRAIGHT AFTER training, and this may sound stupid but its about HOW you wash yourself, get every square inch really good a shower should take no less that 10 minutes to clean yourself thoroughly.

 

[Hendo89]

Not OCD clean just clean clean

 

[DMai]

I'm seriously considering defense soap or something like that after this. That tea tree oil trick sounds like a good way to save a buck.

I've read online that many people freak out with disinfection and wipe every surface of their home with rubbing alcohol and burn their clothes. Others say they just took the antibiotics and it never came back.

If you've had impetigo, what measures have you taken to get rid of it once and for all?

Take the antibiotics.
Wash your clothes, towels, and bed sheets.
Shower IMMEDIATELY after training.
Don't train with a large open wound. I had some major mat burn on my face back in high school wrestling. I figured it was whatever, but that's how I got it back then.

I think that's about all you can do unless you can make sure everyone at your gym stays clean which is impossible (there's always that one guy).

 

[Einarr]

Whatever you do don't train with that shit on your skin. Impetigo is highly contagious.

 

[metallifan3091]

Looks like the OP's questions have been answered, so I thought I'd throw one of my own out.

Am I the only one that has never had a skin infection from grappling?

I've been doing BJJ for about 3 years and judo off and on for that whole time, and I've never had staph, ringworm, impetigo, MRSA, or anything similar. About half of the training is no-gi, where it's always been my impression that skin infections are more prevalent. I don't do anything special as far as hygiene goes, I just shower with normal body wash and shampoo and wash my gear and clean the mats after every class.

 

[Quipling]

Looks like the OP's questions have been answered, so I thought I'd throw one of my own out.

Am I the only one that has never had a skin infection from grappling?

I've been doing BJJ for about 3 years and judo off and on for that whole time, and I've never had staph, ringworm, impetigo, MRSA, or anything similar. About half of the training is no-gi, where it's always been my impression that skin infections are more prevalent. I don't do anything special as far as hygiene goes, I just shower with normal body wash and shampoo and wash my gear and clean the mats after every class.

I got one in three years. Impetigo after a tournament. There's likely a mix between you being fortunante, and not having too much turnover between training partners. I suspect its more common in places where you have guys constantly visiting other gyms or going to tournaments.

 

[Defense Soap]

Impetigo is caused by the strep bacteria, the same bacteria that causes strep throat. Especially this time a year be cautious about training with people who are sick. I always recommend polysporin for those of us suffering from impetigo. It can be found at your local drug store right next to the Neosporin. Polysporin is made specifically for battling the strep bacteria.

Another little trick is to buy a tube of triple antibiotic ointment. These usually consist of polysporin, Neosporin and bacitracin. If you get any mat or gi burns that look a little red put a dab of this on them. You have to be careful not to overuse they ointments however. Overuse will lead to fungal infections.

Guy
Defense Soap

 

[Kenny from MD]

Just to add some things:

They give you a tube of muprocorin or bactroban, and it will last for the next 10 instances of staph. Even the smallest tube is way more than you need.

DEMAND oral antibiotics if you go to the doctor. Some docs are stingy with it. Don't let them keep it from you.

Don't let them tell you it's not staph. Doctors understandably don't like when patients diagnose themselves, which is all good but I've had doctors tell me they think impetigo was shingles, only because I told them it was staph. As soon as you tell them you wrestle, they'll relent. Say WRESTLE, not judo, not mma, not jiu jitsu. It saves you an annoying explanatory conversation.

You'll feel it before it appears. It gets irritated and itchy, like a zit or an ingrown hair, but worse, and it feels like you can pick the skin off with your finger. That's why it is important to have your prescribed leftover goop handy.

One thing that has been really effective in my experience for prevention is diluting tea tree oil in water, and bottling it. I saved an empty bottle of body wash and just refill that. It is my special after-training soap.